Rajput leader threatens minister over ‘barsaati chuhe’ jibe

Angered by Rajasthan cabinet minister Kiran Maheshwari’s reference to Rajputs as ‘barsaati chuhe’ (monsoon rats), a Rajput leader indirectly threatened the minister saying rats could bite anything, even ears and noses.

 Maheshwari’s statement came when she was asked by media persons about the ‘Kamal ka phool, hamari bhool’ campaign being carried out by a mix of communities clubbed under the Sarva Samaj Sangharsh Samiti. 

Maheshwari said those spearheading the campaign were ‘barsaati chuhe’ and the BJP was not bothered by them. 

Addressing a press conference, Rajput Karni Sena national president Mahipal Makrana said that such a statement was not expected from Maheshwari who is the state’s higher education minister. He said the Rajput community would give a reply in the coming assembly elections.

The Rajput community constitutes about 8% of the population and hold sway on 30-35 assembly seats. 

“Rats are known to nibble and bite everything, even ears and noses,” said Makrana.

“Maheshwari won the last assembly elections with the help of these ‘rats’. We will teach her a lesson in the coming elections. There are 40,000 Rajput voters in her constituency (Rajsamand).” 

Makrana said the Rajput community holds women in high regard but will not tolerate women who insult the community. 

Last year, the Karni Sena had spearheaded protests against the film Padmaavat for depicting Queen Padmavati and the Rajput honour in a ‘poor light’. Actor Deepika Padukone had played Queen Padmini of Chittor. Makrana had then threatened to chop off Padukone’s nose for insulting Padmini. 

 The Rajput community has initiated the anti-BJP campaign for disregarding the community. Jaipur Rajput Sabha president Giriarj Singh Lotawara said the BJP government has ignored the Rajputs which have nurtured the party from infancy. 

 He said the party has been ignoring the Rajput community’s demands which include reservation. 

 In 2008, Raje had promised reservation to Rajputs under OBC but the government has gone back on its promise,” said Lotawara. 

 He said there are other issues to which the BJP has not paid heed. Among these are withdrawal of false cases against Rajput leaders for violence in the aftermath of Anandpal Singh encounter in Sanwarad village, a CBI probe in the Chatar Singh Sodha encounter in Barmer, and withdrawal of the Rs4 crore service tax levied on the Rajput Sabha.